Op/Ed

The Need for a Cultural Shift on Gender-based
Violence

Posted Dec. 6, 2017 05:25 am | Op-Ed

By
Laura Finley

November 25th kicked off the annual
16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence.
At no time has this work been more necessary than now.
From rampant sexual harassment to sexual assault,
domestic violence and sexual trafficking, women across
the globe and in the U.S face gender-based violence at
horrifying rates.

My recent personal experience was not the first in my
45 years. While there has been important attention paid
lately to men in power abusing women, who are their
subordinates in the workplace or other places, it is
essential to remember that “everyday” men also commit
these same acts of sexual harassment, abuse, and
assault. Not because their work position affords them
any particular power over a woman, but because the
general sense that they are entitled to do and act as
they please is prevalent in how many boys and men are
socialized.

Not long ago, I experienced unwanted sexual conduct
from someone half my age. He had no social power over
me. He is a male in a culture in which some males are
taught that things are theirs for the taking.

On my campus, I have been catcalled by boys recently
out of high school. A 15-year-old girl I know was
harassed by much older men while wearing a caroling
costume for a holiday event. We should not be surprised.
Horrified – yes. Outraged – yes. But not surprised.

Statistics have long shown the scope of these
problems.

Studies have found that one-third of American women
experience sexual harassment in the workplace. According
to the World Health Organization nearly one-third of the
world’s women have endured physical or sexual intimate
partner violence. Worldwide, domestic violence kills
more women than civil wars. Far more people in America,
mostly women, have been killed by their partners than
were U.S forces in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
combined.

American women are twice as likely to suffer domestic
violence as breast cancer. In the U.S., more women are
injured from domestic violence than from car accidents,
rapes, and muggings combined. According to the Rape,
Abuse, and Incest National Network, a woman in the U.S.
is sexually assaulted every 98 seconds. Women and young
girls are sold into sexual slavery, not just overseas
but on American soil. They are often recruited from
websites like Backpage and Craigslist with promises of
lucrative modeling or acting jobs. More than 3,500 sex
trafficking cases were reported to the National Human
Trafficking Resource Center in 2016, a figure that far
underestimates the scope of the problem given that most
instances are not reported and a girl can be trafficking
multiple times per day.

Males in powerful positions are even more able to
exploit and demean women and those they see as
powerless, as these people fear they will lose their
jobs, their reputation, and even their lives if they
resist or if they tell anyone. This is tremendously
clear with the spate of sexual harassment, misconduct
and assault allegations being levied against
politicians, media moguls, and celebrities, including
but sadly not limited to Bill Cosby, Bill O’Reilly,
Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Matt Lauer, Garrison
Keillor, Roy Moore, Al Franken and of course, Donald
Trump.

What are we to do?

The good news is there is a lot that is already
happening.

New laws are criminalizing revenge pornography,
helping to stop males from sharing provocative photos
and imagery as a means of controlling women.

Women are speaking out about the harassment, abuse
and assault and refusing to be silenced.

Legal settlements are being publicized. Activists are
continuing to strategize and build on the energy and
momentum from last years’ Women’s marches.

In South Florida, I am fortunate to be able to work
with a non-profit organization,
No More Tears, which helps victims of many of
these forms of gender-based violence. This unique
organization is entirely volunteer-run and provides
comprehensive services that allow victims to heal and to
build happy and healthy lives.

I am also co-organizer of the
College Brides Walk, a dating and domestic
violence awareness campaign that reaches several
thousand high school and college youth. More such
organizations are needed nationwide.

The increased conversation about these issues is
indeed a cultural tipping point.

Enough is enough.

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Laura Finley, Ph.D., teaches
in the Barry University Department of Sociology &
Criminology and is syndicated by PeaceVoice.